One of the highlights of my summer has been a trip with my sixteen-year-old granddaughter to Mount Rushmore. We laughed a lot and created the kind of memories I suspect we’ll both carry long after we’ve forgotten the details of the trip.
From there I traded Tucson’s triple-digit heat for a few days at the beach. The East Coast has its own version of summer, all humidity and salt air, but at least the temperatures are kinder. I’ve been reminded that changing scenery changes more than the view.
I mentioned to my daughter Jen today that whenever I travel, no matter how enjoyable the trip, my body seems to ask for one thing: a nap. It’s become almost predictable. New places, new routines, different beds, even wonderful adventures require more energy than I realize in the moment. My mind is delighted while my nervous system quietly whispers, Could we just lie down for a little while?
I used to think that meant I wasn’t traveling well. Now I wonder if it’s simply my body asking for the time it needs to process all the beauty, novelty, and movement.
Here are some exciting things that are coming in the days ahead.
Coming in August: Becoming Her
I will be leading a four-session reflective writing workshop for women. While the Becoming Her Workshop isn’t about writing a memoir. It is about slowing down long enough to notice the moments that shaped you.
Together we will explore meaningful memories, discover the threads connecting different seasons of your life, and leave with a polished story—and perhaps an even deeper appreciation for the woman you’ve become.
Whether you’ve never written before or have journals overflowing on your bookshelf, you are welcome into this supportive and encouraging space.
Workshop Details
📅 Thursdays in August, in person, location to be announced
📝 Four sessions
💲 $150 total
✍️ Led by author and writing instructor Doraine Bennett
You’ll explore:
The Stories That Made Me
Finding the Heart of the Story
Bringing Memories to Life
Becoming Her
If you’ve ever felt the pull to write your story or simply better understand it, I’d love to have you join me.
Email me at bennett.doraine@gmail.com to reserve your spot or learn more.
If you are interested in an online version, email me and we can discuss the possibility of a workshop in the fall.
Order a copy of In the Grip of the Ice
Fascinating, frightening, and brimming with humanity, Bennett's historical verse novel IN THE GRIP OF THE ICE brings readers on a time travel adventure with Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew of men, dogs, and one cat. Strong, spare, free verse poems in the voices of Stowaway Pierce and Boss Shackleton tell the story from launch to loss to rescue and beyond, brilliantly weaving moments about kindness, community, and the natural world with memories of home, questions about an uncertain future, and weighty scenes depicting fear, survival, hope, and inspiring leadership. As a man of poetry, Shackleton would surely be honored by this book. - Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, author of numerous books for children and host of The Poem Farm blog.
Purchase through Amazon (Kindle edition available) or Bandersnatch Books.
Yoga with Jeanetta Returns
I’m so excited to have this class available again! Jeanetta’s morning yoga classes begin again in August. Her classes blend yoga, functional strength, and mobility with evidence-informed movement education, helping you build confidence and resilience in your body.
Beginning August 11
Tuesdays & Thursdays
8:00–9:00 AM
Location: Hydra Jiu-Jitsu Studio, 10861 N. Mavinee Dr, Suite 155, Oro Valley, AZ 85737
$15 per class. No registration required.
Whether you’ve practiced for years or are just getting started, we’d love to see you there. (And I may sneak in to teach a couple of classes.)
For My Christian Yoga Teacher Friends
The Christian Yoga Association (CYA) is offering a 25-hour yoga teacher training to help certified yoga teachers expand their training. The course is designed specifically for instructors who have completed a foundational yoga certification but have struggled to bridge the gap between secular yoga education and a desire to teach in a way that honors your faith journey.
I will be teaching a few of the sessions. Check it out here.
8/1 Online Platform Doors Open
9/26 Live Sessions
I hope your summer has been full of rest and joy. And I hope you will join me in some of the upcoming adventures.